A few hours ago, I landed in Los Angeles, turned on my phone, and confirmed what you already know. Sony Pictures Television is replacing me as showrunner on Community, with two seasoned fellows that I’m sure are quite nice – actually, I have it on good authority they’re quite nice, because they once created a show and cast my good friend Jeff Davis on it, so how bad can they be.

Why’d Sony want me gone? I can’t answer that because I’ve been in as much contact with them as you have. They literally haven’t called me since the season four pickup, so their reasons for replacing me are clearly none of my business. Community is their property, I only own ten percent of it, and I kind of don’t want to hear what their complaints are because I’m sure it would hurt my feelings even more now that I’d be listening for free.

I do want to correct a couple points of spin, now that I’m free to do so:

The important one is this quote from Bob Greenblatt in which he says he’s sure I’m going to be involved somehow, something like that. That’s a misquote. I think he meant to say he’s sure cookies are yummy, because he’s never called me once in the entire duration of his employment at NBC. He didn’t call me to say he was starting to work there, he didn’t call me to say I was no longer working there and he definitely didn’t call to ask if I was going to be involved. I’m not saying it’s wrong for him to have bigger fish to fry, I’m just saying, NBC is not a credible source of All News Dan Harmon.

You may have read that I am technically “signed on,” by default, to be an executive consulting something or other – which is a relatively standard protective clause for a creator in my position. Guys like me can’t actually just be shot and left in a ditch by Skynet, we’re still allowed to have a title on the things we create and “help out,” like, I guess sharpening pencils and stuff.

However, if I actually chose to go to the office, I wouldn’t have any power there. Nobody would have to do anything I said, ever. I would be “offering” thoughts on other people’s scripts, not allowed to rewrite them, not allowed to ask anyone else to rewrite them, not allowed to say whether a single joke was funny or go near the edit bay, etc. It’s….not really the way the previous episodes got done. I was what you might call a….hands on producer. Are my….periods giving this enough….pointedness? I’m not saying you can’t make a good version of Community without me, but I am definitely saying that you can’t make my version of it unless I have the option of saying “it has to be like this or I quit” roughly 8 times a day.

The same contract also gives me the same salary and title if I spend all day masturbating and playing Prototype 2. And before you ask yourself what you would do in my situation: buy Prototype 2. It’s fucking great.

Because Prototype 2 is great, and because nobody called me, and then started hiring people to run the show, I had my assistant start packing up my office days ago. I’m sorry. I’m not saying seasons 1, 2 and 3 were my definition of perfect television, I’m just saying that whatever they’re going to do for season 4, they’re aiming to do without my help. So do not believe anyone that tells you on Monday that I quit or diminished my role so I could spend more time with my loved ones, or that I negotiated and we couldn’t come to an agreement, etc. It couldn’t be less true because, just to make this clear, literally nobody called me. Also don’t believe anyone that says I have sex with animals. And if there’s a photo of me doing it with an animal – I’m not saying one exists, I’m just saying, if one surfaces – it’s a fake. Look at the shadow. Why would it be in front of the giraffe if the sun is behind the jeep?

Where was I? Oh yeah. I’m not running Community for season 4. They replaced me. Them’s the facts.

When I was a kid, sometimes I’d run home to Mommy with a bloody nose and say, “Mom, my friends beat me up,” and my Mom would say “well then they’re not worth having as friends, are they?” At the time, I figured she was just trying to put a postive spin on having birthed an unpopular pussy. But this is, after all, the same lady that bought me my first typewriter. Then later, a Commodore 64. And later, a 300 baud modem for it. Through which I met new friends that did like me much, much more.

I’m 39, now. The friends my Mom warned me about are bigger now, and older, bloodying my nose with old world numbers, and old world tactics, like, oh, I don’t know, sending out press releases to TV Guide at 7pm on a Friday.

But my Commodore 64 is mobile now, like yours, and the modems are invisible, and the internet is the air all around us. And the good friends, the real friends, are finding each other, and connecting with each other, and my Mom is turning out to be more right than ever.

214 Comments

INterested Observer • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Funny show but based on this outburst Harmon is probably more trouble to work with than it’s worth.

Stefan • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Remind me to retroactively judge the quality of your work and professionalism based on your reaction to the next time you’re abruptly fired for seemingly no reason. Frankly, he could have been much more scathing.

je • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Exactly. Well said.

Gaurav • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Troll meet Anti-Troll.

Abed is a nice place to sleep • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

I’d hardly say Harmon was fired for “no reason”. The guy acted like a nut job and you can’t expect a corporation to hand over millions of dollars (the budget to produce one season of the series) to someone this unstable. Not saying it was handled correctly, but still, is this really a surprise?

Since when is responding to a story with your version an outburst? Is it a case of “How dare he contradict the king”?

Bean Counter • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Interesting. Dan said he owned something on the order of “ten percent” of the show. When a show gets low ratings but still gets re-ordered, as was the case with “Community”, do the creators/show runners still pull down big bucks? In other words, those Dan walk away with life-changing “F-ck You Money” ? Or will he have to get a job at the Koo Koo Roo?

I’m thinking he pulled down three or four million a year …. I could be wrong though…

bigbowood • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Well the 10% and the $3-4 million a year are two different figures. The 10% is money he’ll (potentially) make when the show hits syndication (something Sony is determined to make happen as they’re likely losing money at this point in the show’s run… something that’s common for shows before hitting syndication). Once syndication happens, he won’t make Friends/Seinfeld/Big Bang-level f*uck-you money, but he’ll be quite comfortable.

helicopters • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

It’s already been syndicated by Comedy Central.

johnny D • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Only owning 10% of a show is a shitty deal for a show runner. Most get at least 20% and the good ones get 30% or more. Community won’t make big bucks in syndication and Dan will wait a very long time to make very little money in profits. Sony will make some dough but it probably won’t trickle down to Dan after interest and distribution fees.

As or what he was making a year, I’m guessing less than 2 mil a year. Probably about 60-80 grand an episode. Which from what I’ve heard I’m sure he spent on, well… never mind.

bobby the saint • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

thanks Johnny D. and bigbowood. I was very interested in the economics of television showrunning, especially since tv is where the writer is supposed to be king.

appreciate your insights. it looks as if Dan won’t be facing penury anytime soon but it looks like he won’t be on a Chuck Lorre level at all either. not even close. I had heard that Community was one of the most expensive productions on the boob tube (millions per episode) so I wondered if Dan had big profit stakes, too. guess not that big.

oh well.

— bobby the saint

Disgusting • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Nice comment, Sony exec. The fact is, this is how writers are treated. You put everything you have into building a show. You dream it. You sweat it onto the page. You build it. You nurse it. You take the hundreds of inane notes execs give up around the clock.
And then, after all that, not even a phone call from your employers to tell you you’ve been replaced???
I know that Harmon is a tough guy to work for, and maybe the next time around NBC and Sony shouldn’t hire him. But to replace him on a Friday night, the same night they’re sticking HIS show, and replacing him with people that don’t even work there…GROSS.
This is a black mark on Bob Greenblatt’s record. Good execs don’t handle themselves this way. Based on this outburst???? Clearly the words of someone that doesn’t know what a creative enterprise takes.

JOE SMITH • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

I truly do not want to go into the business based upon crap like this. I guess I no longer care to be flogged about the face and neck, with or without my permission. Maybe I’ll change careers. It’s not too late. I guess he would know.

writer • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

“I know that Harmon is a tough guy to work for…”

Understatement of the century.

Comedy • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

I don’t see writers coming up with the insane amounts of money it takes to make these projects, television writers are afforded many more things than screenwriters this is just one incident. And most have it pretty damn good. So come back on here when the television writer in addition to coming up with the idea, owns the studio, network, and company that is putting a lot on the line for a writer’s project not to mention paying a writer for the most part fairly well … and then write a post. Do I think writers still deserve more? YEP. But they’re getting a lot now. Do I like 5 companies owning everything? Nope. But someone has to own the store.

Dude • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Dude – this has been happening for ages. He’s right SONY OWNS THE SHOW – HE DOES NOT. They can do whatever they want as long as they honor his contract in place. They wanted him gone – there are reasons for that they didn’t just wake up one day and think, “gee this would be fun let’s F with this guy.” C MON. They should have called him, I agree. Bob usually handles things better a bit surprised to hear that actually but still – he doesn’t have to call the guy right now they’re in the middle of staffing and upfronts they’re moving quickly and I’m sure NBC and Sony will reach out if everyone could hang on for a nano-second. Damn. LOL THis is some hilarious stuff to read.

Jammies • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Exactly.
And he’s playing the victim card now, blaming the studio. I’d assume there’s 3 years of accumulated judgment to this decision.

Looking forward to next season. Fresh air could be good for the show.

RNR • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Fresh air?! Community is so funny because it has such a distinct point of view, because of someone like Dan. “Fresh air” is not what Community needs. And Chevy can pull his panties out of their proverbial wad — because the outburst, albeit childish, was the best publicity for a show NBC hardly promotes. (And it’s not like Chevy is the touchstone for how to treat coworkers.)

Come to think of it NBC could use a nice breath of fresh air, Mr. Greenblatt….

MADog • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

“And it’s not like Chevy is the touchstone for how to treat coworkers.”

Very true and verrry understated

showfiz • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

I agree, when studios replace the guy whose point of view created the entire show and made it what it is, they honestly have no idea what the hell they’re doing. Community next season will not be the same unique irreverent oddball very funny show that it is. Good luck getting it to syndication now.

The same thing happened to Dead Like Me years ago when MGM fired Bryan Fuller after season 1 and the show was never the same after that and went from a big hit show for showtime to being cancelled in the span on one season. I will never ever ever understand why execs do that.

Craig Hansen • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Hmm…

NBC treated Judd Apatow without much respect during its run of a visionary and unique-perspective little show called Freaks and Geeks back in 1999-2000.

Since them, Apatow and gang have gone of to become the creative forces behind some of the better-grossing comedies in the mast 5-7 years, and his graduates are all over prime time, from HIMYM to Bones…. (Dr. Sweets)

Prediction: Let’s see where Dan Harmon is in 5-7 years. I sense another Apatow in the making.

Kplan • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Ooops. I meant “its” not “it’s.” $@!%!

Get your facts right • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

From what I just read Dan didn’t sound like a victim. That letter was brilliant.

Chris • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Karma is a b!tch. Chevy and the others he mistreated are laughing their butts off now.

Nunya • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Before Community, laughter and Chevy Chase hasn’t been mentioned in the same sentence for 20 years.

Ray • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Oh snap! :)

Bill Moore • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Outburst? I didn’t hear an outburst. I heard a somewhat puzzled guy who’d been fired via press release give his thoughts on the whole affair. Imagine getting fired by reading about it on the front page of your local newspaper. That’s what happened to him here. Given that context, I’d say he was calm, collected, funny and responded in a completely appropriate manner. Hats off to the man.

Toni • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

The guy reads he’s fired from the show he created, not even a call and he’s trouble?

Lame • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Yes not everything has to be aired out in the press. He could have taken the high road. It was tacky. He was trying to be “Joe cool” and/or funny with it but clearly is pissed. He could have waited and written something better or, preferred, not at all.

This type of behavior I seriously hope is not rewarded going forward I don’t care what the guy can write. But it will. Wait for CBS to announce a blind script deal and an overall development deal Monday.

Get your facts right • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

To Lame – you sound like a network executive…….. Brilliant letter Dan

WhatADickHead • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

LOL this reminds me of my very early days as a writer’s assistant A) they sure do love to use the word “masturbating” a lot when given the opportunity B) they may be good writers, but are always horrid at writing unfunny “press releases” make no mistake about it this trend 3-4 years back is here to stay and we have to sit here and read this drivel C) Dude, seriously Shut the FF up. You had my sympathies but the rest of it was just so ridiculous and frankly sad. The sad thing is this is normal in from a creative in entertainment. The head of a major company didn’t call a barely ranked sh — sitcom. WHO CARES? Bad decorum, yes? Are there people all of the U.S. right now being laid off right and left? Yah. So go take your millions (to clarify I’m not one of these guys that hates people with money or who makes money, I have it and am all for people making it, the 10 year old behavior is sad)…. write another script… see if any studio will take you on and have fun… and don’t write these again. I won’t be watching or supporting any of your future projects in any way shape or form… and.. grow a couple. Did NBC suck by not calling? Yep. Happens all the time.

Salvador Dalai Llama • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Ok. So what I learned from your comment is:

A) Writers enjoy talking about their favorite activity;
B) I should not trust your judgement on what is funny or well-written;
C) It’s okay to treat someone badly because other people do, too.

Seriously, that’s about all your post amounts to. How many showrunners does NBC have? Is it really that hard to pick up the phone? If you paid me what Greenblatt gets paid, I sure as hell will pick up the phone and call *the people who enable me to make money*. Dan Harmon could be the biggest ****head in a business full of ****heads, but one would think he might still merit the courtesy of a “We’re going in another direction” phone call.

I found his response interesting, honest (from his point of view), and especially in the closing, quite well-written. Community was a truly innovative show, and I hope the new heads can continue that, even as I doubt they can.

Matt • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

One of the best shows on television. The last two episodes had me in tears.

Richard Hernandez • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Wow, what a revealing and honest response from Mr. Harmon. He was shafted.

Jim • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

The guy knows how to ramble and may be an egomaniac (like most on this business), but the Community community is going to miss him, myself included.

Mom • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

I like this guy, Dan. He’s quite witty and all the bullying has grown him balls most in town lack. I’m sorry he got fired, but we all do sooner or later. At least he’s rich and can comfortably provide for family, friends and anyone he wishes. Yes, they can fire you Dan… Again… And it does suck… Especially when they take your baby… But remember… They can never take your money! Now go buy Mom that new Lexus…

anotherwgamember • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

And the classy part is, he didn’t mention Ole’ Medium Talent once in his screed. Good on Dan.

Kelly • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Outburst?? Hilarious.

WhatADickHead • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

It’s an outburst trying to come off as writer/funny… but its an outburst. The guy’s 39 supposed to be a professional so you go piss on NBC? WHO CARES, MOVE ON, NEXT. Geezus. It’s a tough business and you sound like a 12 year old chick.

Chuck R • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

So when the company you’ve been contentiously working with for three years suddenly decides to cut you out of your creative project, one you’ve poured your time and efforts into for half a decade, without so much as a phone call, you’re not supposed to be furious about that? Removing Harmon from the show at this point is the basic equivalent of Pope Julius calling up Michelangelo three-quarters of the way through the Sistine Chapel and telling him he’s fired. Oh wait, no — not calling him. Just firing him, and letting him find out from someone else.

Com crew • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Thank god they had the balls to replace him. He made working on the show a nightmare, with late and sometimes nonexistent scripts.

Anonymous • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Tough shit. If you want to spend your career making forgettable crap, go do craft on Last Man Standing. TV is not assembling refridgerators, it can’t be the same every time. Be happy you could be associated with something truly special.

tvFan • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Great letter and fantastic to shine a light on the (not so little) Hollywood lies. I wonder what will happen when Dan realizes that Guarascio & Port are also represented by UTA.

Did the agency intentionally keep Harmon in the dark to protect their package revenue ?

Sarah • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

That is the most interesting thing to me about this story… Did UTA let Harmon know that he was getting fired before or after they negotiated Guarascio and Port’s deals??

If Harmon only found out a couple of days ago that he was getting fired from reports in the press, then UTA threw him under the bus. Getting fired from NBC is tough, but getting screwed over by your own agency is way worse.

jamie • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

It’s going to be tough for new showrunners to come in at this stage of the game to try and give the show “broader appeal” aka – dumb it down. Having said that, you can’t publicly play a voice mail rant from one of your actors without repercussions. His job is to keep that stuff in-house and he didn’t do it.

Dave • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

LOL…they can’t dumb it down anymore than it is now

Abby • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Good point. I like his candor here and it is not very harsh at all. Can someone tell me if this Greenblatt guy likes firing the show creators more than most? Didn’t he just fire/replace the creator of Smash? I wonder when he will get fired… he doesn’t sound like he knows how to run a network or treat the people working there.

Duh • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

He made Showtime the hot network it is, genius! I assure you Bob knows how to run a network. He’s one of the best

SnarkAttack • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Oh, I know Showtime. It’s that network you get for free when you complain to DirecTV.

Is this a joke? You must be a young guy not getting what you want in the industry. Chevy’s whole career counts, regardless of whether he’s an asshole or older. You don’t have to respect him, but for god sakes respect a career in this industry.

no name • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Been there. Had that same script handed to me. It friggin’ hurt really bad for a really long time. There is nothing worse when you lose control and the people you hired start treating you like you were dead. Surprised he was as reserved as he was. Excellent blog post though, handled it like a champ.

no name • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

ohh…and by the way…three years out..all those people that treat you like you are dead..they get amnesia and three years later they come crawling back once you are back on top and have some budget to spend.

JakeT • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

LOL…execs won’t be coming back to a hack who was nothing but a headache and couldn’t deliver decent ratings.

anon • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

NBC hardly promoted Community. Its not the creator/show runner’s fault when the network spends advertising on The Office instead of Community. The Office is dreck & has been since season 1 and the viewers of it know where it is and when it is, no real promotion required. NBC is a joke because they under-promote EVERY new comedy, but continue to promote shows that are already hits, which is idiotic because all of that money could have gone to promoting a show that needs it.

Cmon • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

They couldn’t promote the show because Harmon too often didn’t have the scripts in on time so that promos could be MADE in time, Miss Knowitall!.

Anonymous • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

ah the kindness of execs in this business
no one is safe, agents , actors, writers we all turn on each other and go for the kill
it is the nature of things in this town where there is a ton of fear, greed, egos and little talent
yes i said it LITTLE TALENT –

shame on them- they are little pricks they dont have the balls to call the guy and tell him-
babies

Jessie • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Candid, funny and honest – something you don’t see too much of with TV development – best of luck to Dan Harmon and I hope we see your wit and humor again on a network that appreciates you.

Suzyq • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

DifFicult to work with? The man read about his dismissal in the news. From a show he created and made successful. And good. I think his sardonic reply shows remarkable restraint. Can’t wait to see what he does next.

A great and honest response from a creator of a show like no other. Community is brilliant. I have a feeling that the new showrunners and probably NBC want to steer the show in a different direction probably to try attract more eyeballs.

I’ve lost faith it’ll continue past the 13 episodes ordered for next season.

Dan Harmon you’re brilliant and funny as hell!!!!

Morbs • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Is there any doubt that Harmon is absolutely horrible to work with?

Asaidi • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Does he think everyone just forgot about the fight with Chevy Chase that he decided to make public? That’s probably why he was fired.

Steve • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

No. While a public embarrassment, The “Chevy feud” had very little to do with it.

The major issues were the typical and boring ones: Production running over time and over budget. Scripts coming out late and scenes being written minutes before they’re set to shoot. Some of the staff attrition is due to talented people sincerely proud of how good the show is, putting their full effort and passion into it — but also getting tired, burned out, or needing a break from the all-nighters, long hours, and erratic schedules. Prickly personalities, all passionate in their views, didn’t help the Studio/Network/Show relationship and it unfortunately deevolved to the present.

Mike • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Yeah – they’ll tolerate everything except paying more than the show’s worth. It’s dollars and cents – a lot of great writers, GREAT WRITERS, are lousy managers. You have to know how to delegate and how to finish on time. He didn’t earn the hassle they had to put up with making the show “his way”. Hope the guy learns from this, does another show, and everybody’s happier. Yes, even Chevy.

mine • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

This makes sense. Judd Apatow or Dan Harmon (though he’s really not in that league) belong in features doing projects that can gestate in flexible ways. They’re not going to do well with the strictures of network show schedules. Event in features, when they go from working with friends and unknowns to working with stars, they lose the ability to tailor the product (ask Larry David and SBC about this). Sometimes coming up with funny doesn’t conform to your release schedule or the fact that you lose Adam Sandler to another movie on a particular date. And if you’ve got to get 13+ episodes out the door like clockwork without screwing up everyone’s lives but you don’t know how to build the kind of joke machine to do it (apparently Seth MacFarlane and Tina Fey do), then you belong in features. That said, I don’t know if Dan Harmon’s sense of humor can sustain more than a 24 minute plot so maybe it’s hopeless for him.

Dead Like Me was a terrible show in every way.

a • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

These shows are not just businesses, they are expressions of art. It’s too bad that the owners couldn’t find a way to let Harmon express himself, AND monitor their investment. Blame on both sides. But it’s sad to see an artist unable to complete his work. Remember, we watched the same thing happen on THE WEST WING after 4 straight Emmy wins. The old fashioned owners (Wells, WBTV) could not figure out how to fit aaron sorkin in their box. The resulting diminished show never lived up to the snap of Sorkin. These things happen, but they are sad.

Ragnar • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Commerce to Art: Drop Dead

Kelly • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Community is “art”? Please put the crack pipe down before posting at Deadline.

tevin • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

great letter.

JN • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

This “NBC just pulled my pants down and bent me over the table” letter is better than Conan’s was, and that’s saying something.

Ed • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

NBC didn’t pull his pants down. Sony did.

Leeroy • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

^This

And I still say everyone saw this coming. If Harmon didn’t, he’s got a wicked case of denial.

Duh • on May 19, 2012 7:47 am

Here’s the thing – you can’t act like an insne person for three years, treat your employees like absolute garbage and then be surprised when they fire you. Yes, someone should have called. But no one wanted to talk to you….and THAT, my friend, was the problem.